Lynn's Story: Preserving hope, Preserving dreams
There was a 50-50 chance that it would stop the growth of the fibroids... that I would not get pregnant after that procedure.
Like many women, Lynn had always dreamed of having her own children. But in early 2007, her chances of ever realizing that dream were jeopardized.
Lynn was experiencing some discomfort and went to see her doctor, who recommended an X-ray. The test revealed two uterine fibroids, a common condition of benign (non-cancerous) tumors that develop within the uterine wall. Her doctor then suggested an embolization procedure to prevent blood flow to the fibroids, effectively preventing further growth.
"There was a 50-50 chance that it would stop the growth of the fibroids, and there was a large chance that I would not get pregnant after that procedure," said Lynn. "That was not an option for me."
Her doctor referred her to Dr. Ceana Nezhat, a world-renowned gynecological surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive surgery and a pioneer in laparoscopic and robotic surgery at Northside Hospital. After talking with Dr. Nezhat, Lynn knew that he was right for the job.
"He sat down with me for hours at a time," Lynn remembers. "I felt the most comfortable with him and the decisions he made. I just knew that he was the one."
Lynn chose a robotic myomectomy based on Dr. Nezhat's recommendation. The procedure is a common alternative to hysterectomy, which involves preserving and repairing the uterus, and subsequently, preserving fertility and reducing the risk of uterine rupture during pregnancy. Of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the U.S. each year, at least one third is for fibroids.
The less invasive robotic myomectomy uses state of the art, computer-assisted robotics technology, providing surgeons with a greater range of motion and flexibility while at the same time improving visibility during the operation. Patients benefit from smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays and recovery time, less pain and scarring, less blood loss and reduced risk of infection.
Lynn was somewhat anxious about the procedure because she has lupus, an autoimmune disease. But she fully trusted Dr. Nezhat.
Her surgery was a complete success, and the operation revealed that the size and location of the fibroids would never have allowed Lynn to get pregnant. The procedure actually took longer than expected because of an obstruction between the fibroids and Lynn's bladder, which had to be reconstructed during the operation, a difficult procedure made much easier by the robotics.
The doctor laughed and said, 'Well guess what. You're having twins.' That was probably the most shocking thing in my life.
After the procedure, Dr. Nezhat delivered the good news. "Everything was wonderful," Lynn remembers. "He said, ‘You're good to go. You are going to be able to get pregnant.'"
And in July 2007, she did.
Based on the expert care she received during her first operation, Lynn chose Northside for the birth of her children - even though she lives in Gainesville.
"So I was taking a very long drive very often. It would take me sometimes two hours to get there in traffic. But I had the best pregnancy ever and the hospital stay was great."
When Lynn went in for the first ultrasound, she jokingly told her doctor, "I just want to make sure I'm not having twins." Both Lynn's mother and father come from families that have twins.
As soon as he saw the ultrasound, the doctor laughed and said, "Well guess what. You're having twins." Lynn couldn't believe it. "That was probably the most shocking thing in my life."
The success of the robotic myomectomy allowed Lynn to carry her babies to term. Many women who have undergone a Myomectomy may not have a successful pregnancy with a single birth much less twins, because it puts extra stress on the uterus. Lynn chose Northside hospital for the birth of her babies because of their excellent reputation and her trust OB, Dr. Jose Garcia and Dr. Jose Lopez-Zeno, her perinatologist.
This is the first report in the nation of a successful delivery of healthy twins following a robotic myomectomy.
Now, Lynn is facing the challenges and joys of being a mother, a dream that never would have been possible.
"It's amazing. It's a blessing," she added.